DOHA, QATAR – Novak Djokovic starts the long comeback trail in Doha, where he is aiming for a third straight title at the season opener.

After kicking off his return to competitive tennis at the well established jumping on point of the Mubadala World tennis Championships, defending champion Novak Djokovic will start his season proper in Doha.

Joining him in a top class field will be Dominic Thiem, also hot-footing it over from Abu Dhabi, as well as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga after being part of the David Cup winning French side at the end of last season.

Djokovic won a bruising final against British No. 1 Andy Murray, who has opted to start his season in Brisbane, and the Serbian is looking to make a triumphant return to competition with a three-peat.

While Mubadala will be a much anticipated return for the 12-time Slam champion, this will be a more true test of his fitness since injury stopped his season at Wimbledon. Now with Radek Stepanek joining his team, he will be facing some of the world’s best.

Tsonga will be joined by fellow Davis Cup team mate Richard Gasquet, and Thiem will look to consolidate his position having cracked the World Top 5.

Photo by Dave Shopland/BPI/REX/ Shutterstock | Aljaz Bedene US Open 2017, Flushing Meadows, New York

British interest sees Aljaz Bedene also pick up from an injury shortened season. he called time on his season after losing in the second round of the Shanghai Masters. Bedene is just a point ahead of Kyle Edmund who will be joining Murray in starting his year in Brisbane.

We’ve always been passionate about organising the best tournament and we have been consistent in achieving this. The 2018 Qatar ExxonMobil Open is once again parading some of the strongest field in its category which is a proof of our commitment over the years.”